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A scene from December 2020: refugees from the city of Mocimboa
Photo: ALFREDO ZUNIGA / AFP
In Mozambique, armed forces have liberated the strategically important port city of Mocímboa da Praia from the hands of Islamist militias.
This was announced by a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.
Accordingly, the city, which is located in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, was liberated by Mozambican soldiers and armed forces from the African state of Rwanda.
Rwanda's Ministry of Defense also confirmed the successful strike against the extremists.
Islamist rebels have been carrying out brutal attacks in northern Mozambique since 2017.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 730,000 people have now been displaced.
Mocimboa da Praia was considered an important center for the rebels.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has mandated a standby force to help Mozambique fight terrorists.
According to officially unconfirmed reports, the force was to be stationed in the region together with a contingent of Rwandan soldiers for an initial period of three months.
In July, the EU decided on a military operation in which soldiers from EU countries are to train Mozambican armed forces.
The soldiers for this are mainly from Portugal.
Germany did not want to participate until further notice.
sms / dpa / AFP